UK: Christine Young, former managing director at Glasgow property company BOHO Group, and Gillian Sloan, former head of operations at BOHO Group, have launched loopliv, a new senior living brand.
Under the duo’s leadership, BOHO was the first student housing provider in the UK to install IoT technology to combat the climate crisis and reduce its carbon footprint. It won the Best Climate Crisis Initiative at the 2021 Student Accommodation Awards for introducing the technology which increased efficiency for daily operations and maintenance, and made energy cost savings for the £33 million GDV development Scotway House in Glasgow.
They also recently led the operational transition involved in sale of Scotway House to global student provider GSA.
Young and Sloan have now left BOHO to form loopliv, an age-restricted rental product.
It offers a range of options for partnerships including forward funding, joint ventures and turnkey opportunities to build a portfolio of new purpose-built communities for the over-55s in locations across the UK.
Sloan said: “The later living market hasn’t fully blossomed in the UK and we have identified a massive opportunity. There is lack of provision for energetic, vital, inspirational and fun people around 50 plus who wish to enjoy every aspect of life, not be written off, make new friendships, enjoy community, work, socialise and live their best lives.”
“Currently, those 55+ don’t have the opportunity to live independently in their own home as part of a wider age restricted community with lifestyle, wellbeing and services readily available to support their independence and aspirations. Unless they want to live in an integrated retirement community and even at that, they can’t do that for another 10 years. As announced in the recent Levelling Up white paper, the government has committed to putting people at the heart of care, which states that ‘every decision about care is a decision about housing’. They have committed £300m towards supporting housing options and said they would do more to give older people a good range of housing and care options,” she added?
“So why are the 55+ being ignored? Surely if we take a proactive approach at a younger age, the same benefits will be gained. In fact, this may in turn reduce the future care needs for that individual.”
Young added: “We’ve all heard of ‘buy to let’, loopliv says ‘let to live’. One of the options for residents would be to keep their house as an asset, gain an income through letting and experience the most amazing new way of living. They can enjoy their own privacy and serenity in their own modern, fully kitted out and stylish apartment yet be fulfilled socially by becoming part of a community with amenities and events. Our properties will deliver exceptionally designed apartments and social amenities from roof garden terraces and tennis courts to cinema rooms, cafes, creative areas, art rooms and spaces to work.”
“Loopliv Group will be responsible for some pretty fundamental changes, specifically to the way people from mid-life onwards choose to live their lives. Loopliv has worked with local creatives and businesses to develop its brand and website which launches over the next few weeks,” she added.
